the court also agreed to hear a challenge to the federal defense of marriage absent. it defines marriage as, quote, only a legal union between one man and one woman. the law had a big effect on eddie windsor of new york who married thea spire. when she died leaving her the state, the irs sent a tax bill for $363,000 because they did not consider them to be married. >> i think ultimately just couldn't believe it. i couldn't believe they were making a stranger of this person i lived with and loved for 43 something years. >> under that law, same-sex couples who are legally married are denied about 1,000 federal benefits that other married couples get. after supporting defense of marriage act the obama administration concluded last year it violates the constitution. >> we cannot defend the federal government poking its nose into what states are doing and putting a thumb on the scale against same-sex couples. >> house republicans are now taking up the law's legal defense. supporters say it helps preserve traditional marriage. >> unions of two men or two men are not the sam